About

The International Association of Clinical Forensic Medicine (IACFM)(formally the World Police Medical Officers (WPMO)) was established in 1984. It arose prior to the First World Meeting of Police Surgeons or Police Examiners hosted by the late Dr Bill Eckert, a prominent American forensic pathologist who recognised the value and contribution of British police surgeons to the field of forensic medicine. This meeting was held in Wichita, Kansas, in August 1987. It was held under the WPMO presidency of Dr Ivor Doney from Bristol, an active member of the Association of Police Surgeons (APS), who was supported in this venture by the APS’s president and several members. Subsequent conferences came to be held in association with the triennial meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences.

IACFM represents Clinical Forensic Medicine and, in keeping with the increasing recognition of the discipline, saw the transformation of WPMO into the International Association of Clinical Forensic Medicine (IACFM) at the IAFS meeting in Toronto in 2017. The current President of IACFM is Associate Professor John Gall, a forensic physician in Melbourne, Australia.

Past Presidents

Year

Name

Country

1984-1987

Dr Ivor E Doney

United Kingdom

1987-1990

Dr WJ (Bill) Treadwell

New Zealand

1990-1993

Dr Myles DB Clarke

United Kingdom

1993-1996

Prof Shigeyuki Tsunenari

Japan

1996-1999

Prof JAJ (Rex) Ferris

Canada

1999-2002

Dr WP (Bill) Ryan

Australia

2002-2005

Dr David McLay

United Kingdom

2005-2008

Dr Philip Beh

Hong Kong

2008-2011

Prof Duarte Nuno Vieira

Portugal

2011-2014

Dr Jason Payne-James

United Kingdom

What is Clinical Forensic Medicine?

The practice of clinical forensic medicine (CFM) varies not only between different countries but also between jurisdictions within those countries. CFM encompasses the provision of forensic medical services, including the provision of health care, primarily to the living and the collection and interpretation of information for the purpose of civil and criminal law, the judiciary and the police. It is that branch of medicine that deals with both medical and legal aspects of patient care.

Specific areas include:–

examination and treatment of alleged victims and perpetrators in the investigation of crimes against the person, evidence collection and the documentation and interpretation of injuries. This includes physical and sexual assault, domestic violence and all aspects of child abuse and neglect.

attendance at crime and death scenes and the provision of advice to investigators regarding medical aspects of a particular case